Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-05-20
THE SEAL ISLANDS.
The Natives n Prosperous People and
and Very Fond of Dancing.


and Very Fond OF Dancing.
The natives of the Seal islands. al
though of common origin with those of
the Aleutan islands. being brought
into closer contact with the whites and
enjoying certain privileges and emolu-
ments arising from the seal industry,
are far in advance of their less favored
kinsmen in the south. If one may
judge by external evidence they are
even better off than the average work
men in any civilized community
Every male resident of the Seal islands
upon arriving at a certain age is enti-
tied To become a ''sealer.' He is un-
der the direct supervision of native
chief, TO whom he renders implic con
tidencc. The Alaska Commercial COM
pany pay for each seal X He'd and skin
ned a certain amount. which is agreed
upon between the natives and the seal
ers. At the end of the killing season
the total number of seals killed is
counted very accurately. in manner
which leaves no room for doubt and
the amount due the natives is divided
third-cass shares The shares are
paid over to the several sealers as
agreed upon. Besides the regular seal
erS. the church is allowed to share in
the div sion, and the two first-clasS
shares are annually set aside as fund
for the assistance of distressed widows
and orphans.
On the island of st. George, where
twenty-five thousand seals are annually
taken. $1,000 is divided among the ma
tives each season. A first-class share
last season amounted to 1923. When
il is taken into consideration that be-
sides this cash paid for services render
ed by each sealer. every nat We family
on the island has comfortable home.
with fuel. light, medical attendance and
school ne free Of charge. 1t will not
seem an eXaggerat.On to claim for these
hvpcrboreans state of life which it
would be hardsi if not impossible to inn
prove. With such advantages over
his fellow Aleuts it is hardly to be won
dered at that the Seal islander should
consider himself tr tle b.tter than his
poor cousins. Great is the tlutter in
the social circles of Oonalaska when
the dusky hero from the bloody fields
of ST. George or st. Paul arrives on one
of the company steamers in search of
wife. La affairs of this kind the
priest Of the parish has great influence,
and it has been said that these good
men manage 10 hold back the choicest
articles i'm the way of manageable
damsels until less desirable stock has
been iloatcd, thus preserving a healthy
tone TO the market. However this NAV
be, marriages are always occasions of
general and profuse enjoyment, and
every body seems happy.
Dancing u'ged in by old and
young al he, and forms one of the
favoritc amu>ements of the natives to
while away the tedium of the long W n
ter months. Daring the seal ne season
20 much attention must be paid to the
bus ness of taking seals that but little
time Is left for amusement. When
tins work is completed, however
grandball is usually given, which is
participated In by every body who can
get TO the hall The native bells come
gaylv decked IN silks and satins fresh
from san Francisco and the men stalk
around respondent in top boots, store
clothes, and paper collars. lake good
notice Of the collar, for it NAV happen
that, in the excitement of the dance.
i'm the maddening whirl of a grand
"all-hands-around' movement it may
break loose from the contining button
and wander at its own sweet will down
the back or over the ears of its oblivi-
Gus but happy owner. The orchestra
generally consists of two sad-looking
Alcuts armed with large accordjons and
corraled in a corner by line of chairs.
There is premonitory bass note. n
short struggle with the bellows. and
then a stirring Russian waltz of polka
peals forth. Each gentleman seizes
the lady next to him without regard
to race. color. or previous condition of
servitude.' and finds TO his surprise
that he has secured good partner, for
they ali dance remarkably well.
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